When does an eight become a perfect 10 for the world's most populous country? That long-anticipated blissful moment finally arrived Friday for China. At 8 p.m. on the 8th day of the 8th month of year 2008, the opening ceremonies for the 2008 Summer Olympics masterfully blended the historic richness of the Silk Road and the modern vibrancy of the hi-tech world.

A resoundingly retro Grammy Awards left its biggest winners nearly speechless. On a night filled with nods to the show's 50-year history, the most trophies went to a 24-year-old singer known for her old-soul voice, and the most sought-after prize went to a veteran jazzman's Joni Mitchell tribute album.